Corset



UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS A. DOWNS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,385, dated July 19,1881.

Application filed January 8, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it `known that I, LEWIS A. DOWNS, ofChicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Corsets; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and eic-V act description of theinvention, that will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to understand and make use of the same, reference being hadto the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,forming a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is an improvement in the manufacture ofthat portion ofthe corset which lies nearly or immediately over thehips, the parts being so constructed and united as to afford ease andcomfort to the wearer, and at the same time retain the sym nietricalproportions of the fabric.

Figure 1 is a partial front and side elevation of a corset embodying myimprovement. Fig. 2 is aseparate view of the hip portion, to which myimprovement more nearly relates. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in theplane 3 3, Fig. 2; andv Fig. 4, an edge view of the corded waistpiece.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the side or' hip section of acorset; a. a', rubber or elastic gores, and b the corded waist portionor center piece. rEhe hip-section referred to is composed of threedistinct pieces, the upper elastic gore forming one piece, the lowerelastic gore another, and the corded waist part the third piece. Theseseveral parts are then sewed together, being arranged in the order shownin Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, and are then inserted in the corset, unitingthe front and back portions of the same, substantially as illustrated inFig. 1 of the drawings. This form of construction was found to benecessary in order to preserve a due proportion of the several partsrelative to each other. The corded waist-piece is really the essentialfeature of my improvement. It readily conforms to the movements of thewearer and retains the symmetry of the parts without any inconvenienceto the wearer.

The corded seams runnin gin a horizontal plane, instead of taking avertical course, allows this portion of the corset to double overwithout breaking the stiffening fabric, for the reason 5o that thefabric between each cord acts as aflexible joint, readily allowing thewearer to bend over, and when the person assumes an erect position thewaist portion returns to its proper position relative to the joiningparts. 'lhis 55 corded waist-piece may be thickened or stiffened withany fabric that may be suitable for the purpose, and in accordance withthe requirements of the manufacture. Allhard stiffening material-such aswhalebone, horn,&c.- 6o is, however, entire] y dispensed with in thisportion of the corset. If whalebones are used which run the whole lengthof the hip-section, they very soon break. If short bones are usedruiming from the top and bottom, the inner 65 ends prove to be veryuncomfortable to the wearer when in the act of bending over. If` thebones are run in a diagonal direction, they very naturally soon forcetheir way through the fabric of the corset, all of these .features 7obeing very objectionable, and which are entirely removed bymyimprovement. The corded waist-pieces have a slight vertical movement,just sufficient for the purpose, and the rubber Vgores a lateraladjustment, the com- 75 bined effect of which is to give ease and comAfort to the person without any of the discomforts or objectionsenumerated above.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 8o Is- In thc side section of a corset, the cordedwaist or center piece, b, and the parts A A, having elastic gores a a',all joined together and inserted in the corset, uniting the front and 85back sections,`substantially as and for the purpose set fort-h.

LEWIS A. Downs.

Witnesses:

FRANK N. GAGE, JOHN W. POLLEY.

in I

